Julia was in a rare mood to compliment others. “I know she sounds a little too young to be giving lessons, but I think she’s a good teacher. I actually get way more about piano from her than those teachers and their endless lectures about theories and all that junk!”A kind smile broke out on Professor Ward’s lips. “Few people could elicit such high praises from my Julia. I really think we’ve struck gold this time.”The girl’s cheeks went a little pink. “I mean, to be fair… I've been chowing down on the food she makes, too, so it’s not like I’m gonna bite the hand that feeds me, right?”“Eating her food? Young lady! And here I thought you’d rather buy takeout than eat home-cooked meals!”Her grandfather’s comment reminded Julia of the offer she had made. Deirdre might have rejected her when she asked the former to be her new cook, but maybe… if her grandfather was the one talking, Deirdre might relent after all!Her eyes twinkled. She snuck up to Professor Ward and threw her arms
Julia felt both shock and worry roll into one. She lurched and helped her up, demanding, “What’s wrong, Deirdre? Why were you hiding in the closet? And God, why are you shaking so much!?”Deirdre’s lashes were quivering. She desperately sought her voice, and when it finally came out like a leaky whisper, she exhaled, “I’m… fine…”“Miss me with that bullsh*t! You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”Deirdre sputtered out a dry laugh. It was as if she had a brush with Death itself—and for now, she lived. “I’m fine, really. I… I just need a favor. Please, Julia.”“W-What kind of favor?”Deirdre closed her eyes. “Don’t ever tell anyone my name.”“Your name?” Something larger than confusion and questioning loomed over Julia. “Why?”Unpacking the entire complexities of her life was too grueling, so Deirdre simply replied under her breath, “I know you’re a good kid at heart, Julia, but there are some things I can’t tell you. What I can say is that I’m not a bad guy and haven’t committed any
Brendan furrowed his eyebrows. “When did they leave?”“Not long ago!” Henry’s answer sprung at the tail-end of his question. “About three or four days ago.”Three or four days ago? Meaning they had left the eastern Surstate and came straight to the west side. It was also the one blindspot of their manhunt. Brendan wished he could kick himself for this mistake. A part of him was mocking himself—oh, what lengths his darling Deirdre would not go to if it meant escaping him!How were they supposed to survive in the wealthier western Surstate now that Tobey’s bank account had been frozen? He shook himself out of his thoughts and finally turned to look Henry in the eyes for the first time. Part of him could not help but notice how much the man’s skin seemed to be glistening under the light. “Do you know where they went?”His display of patience made Henry feel honored and special. Brendan was the kind of elite, legendary figure everyone would scrape their knees to lick his shoes clea
Sam lifted him high—a feat easy enough for his well-trained muscles. He chucked him at a chair, and the force with Henry’s weight combined smashed the poor thing into pieces.Sam picked up one of its legs like a baton.Henry almost wetted himself from the sudden change of events. Still lying on the floor, he begged, “Stop, Mr. Brighthall! Sir! Oh Lord, stop! I’ll give you everything you need! Don’t hit me! Please! Stop!”The blood from his nose and lips seemed to have mixed together before rolling down his face and splattering onto the floor. He was shaking.Sam turned to look at Brendan, who simply lit up a cigarette. The rage in his eyes hardly dissipated.The bodyguard understood. He stomped on Henry a few more times until the man was too beaten to even shout, and finally, Sam asked, “Do you know what was your mistake?”Henry shook his head like his life depended on it. Judging from his badly bruised face, he would not be wrong. Sam pulled him by the collar and said in a low
”I”m not here for the professor!” Brendan cut her off, his fingers clutching Julia’s arms. He had never looked so anxious before. “That piano teacher! Where is she?”Julia froze for a second. “The piano teacher?”Brendan shoved her aside and ran toward the piano room as Julia reeled out of her shock to follow him. “Brendan, she’s clocked out. She has gone home.”“Gone!?” Brendan thinned his lips and turned to fix a piercing stare at her. “I’m going to ask you one question, and I need you to answer me honestly. That piano teacher is visually impaired, isn’t she?”Julia averted her gaze. “Visually impaired? You mean, like a blind person?”“Yes. A blind woman.”Julia laughed mirthlessly. “Come on. How’s a blind person supposed to be anyone’s piano teacher?”“She’s… an able-bodied person, then.”“Yeah,” Julia quickly answered, nodding. She could not stop herself from adding, “You’re really out of sorts, Brendan. Why? Did you think that piano teacher is someone you know?”“Yes.” Br
Deirdre nodded, her head trembling.Tobey hesitated no longer. “We should pack up and leave right now.”“No, we don’t have to go!” Deirdre tugged on his arm. “I told Julia not to pass any information about me to Brendan. Even if he wants to know about me, Julia’s going to dig up some excuses to throw him off my scent.”More importantly, Deirdre knew they could no longer afford to run like fugitives. “Are you sure?” The frown on Tobey’s face refused to go. “You’ve only known the girl for a week. He’s known her for way longer. What if she accidentally let out the secret and…”“No, that’s not gonna happen,” Deirdre replied as the firmness in the girl’s voice returned to her mind. “I told her a reasonably good fib. Julia might still be a little on the green side, but she’s a perceptive, bright kid. She should be able to cover us well enough.”Tobey could not find much to argue with that, so he turned his attention to calming her down. “Okay. That aside, you should take a bath and ta
Deirdre took a deep breath. She did not expect Brendan to tell Julia everything. After all, he was the one who loathed their relationship the most.“Julia… Please calm down first. I’ll explain to you.”“Of course, you have to explain to me,” Julia said, her eyes widening. “That’s why I’m here! Why did you leave Brendan for this guy?”“No… You’ve got it wrong…” Deirdre let out a bitter smile. She was never the one who left Brendan. He was the one who had abandoned her. “This is a bit complicated, so I’ll make it simple for you. Long story short, we don’t love each other anymore. If you have been paying attention to Brendan, you should know that he already has a fiancee, and her name is Charli McKinsey.“We were indeed married before, but we've already gotten a divorce. He and Charli are the ones who really love each other. He cares about me because I'm pregnant. He wants my child, and that's something I won't let happen again.”“Again?”Deirdre gnashed her teeth and continued
“Deirdre!” The man hugged Julia, and he sounded anxious. The faint fragrance he wore and the smell of his sweat tickled her nostrils, but she did not find it disgusting.Julia was stunned for a moment, but Tobey suddenly realized something. He released Julia and asked with a frown. “Who are you? Why are you inside my house?”“I…” It was only then Julia came around to her senses. She realized that he was Deirdre’s boyfriend, and her face turned red. Biting her lips, she said, “I’m Julia. I’m Deirdre’s student.”“Julia?” Tobey knew who she was, but he did not have time to talk to her now. “Where is Deirdre?”Deirdre came out of the room. “Tobey…”Tobey hastily went up to her and grabbed her hand. “Deirdre, quickly! We need to go now.”“Go now?” Deirdre became nervous again. “What happened?”“Some strangers are wandering in the neighborhood. I think they’re Brendan’s men, and they’re looking for you,” Tobey said sternly. “We need to go now and find another safer place.”“This is a